Wednesday, January 6, 2010

THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (1934)

The Man Who Knew Too Much(1934) suspense film. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Peter Lorre. Released by Gaumont British. It was one of the most successful films of Hitchcock's British period. Hitchcock remade the film with James Stewart and Doris Day in (1956) for Paramount Pictures. It's the only film he ever remade. The two films are, very different in setting, and plot.

While traveling through St. Moritz, Bob and Jill Lawrence and their daughter Betty become friends with a foreigner staying at the same hotel. One evening as Jill is dancing with their new friend, he is shot through the window. Before he dies, he has Jill promise to take the note from his hotel room and deliver it to the British authorities. Before Bob can get to the authorities, he is handed a note by Betty's kidnappers. The couple return home to England and learn that the kidnappers plan to assassinate a powerful foreign visitor at Albert Hall. Will the family be able to save the visitor and Betty lives from the assassins?

This is my favorite version of Alfred Hitchcock's THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH. Alfred Hitchcock and Peter Lorre make a wonderful team. I wish that they had made more movies together.
Did you find Alfred Hitchcock's cameo appearance?
For those who have seen both films which is your favorite?

FUN FACTS:

The gun battle scene at the end of the film is based on the real life Sidney Street siege which took place on 3 January 1911 in London.Alfred Hitchcock did not know that Peter Lorre, a Hungarian, did not speak English.Peter Lorre's first English language film.The title of this film comes from the name of a book written by G.K. Chesterton.